France's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 0.3 percent in the third quarter compared to the second, pointing to a stable economic recovery in the country, the official statistics bureau INSEE said Tuesday.

The quarterly growth rate was the same as that of the second quarter, according to the national institute.

Meanwhile, Economic Minister Christine Lagarde predicted a continuing growth in the final quarter of this year, which was expected to stand around the same rate of 0.3 percent. She also gave an optimistic but cautious outlook for 2010.

New figures from the INSEE showed that the total value of goods and services production decreased 2.3 percent compared to last quarter. Exports increased 1.7 percent, higher than the imports, but lower than the expected 2.3 percent.

Disposable household income posted a rise of 0.8 percent, after a 1.1-percent increase in the three months to July. Private purchasing power also increased 0.6 percent, but lower than the 1.1 percent in the second quarter.

In effect, quarterly household consumption rose 0.1 percent, less than the previous quarter's 0.4-percent rise.

The institute also forecast in its latest report on December 17 that the French economy would see an increase of 0.4 percent in the first quarter of 2010 with a 0.3-percent rise in the second. However, the full-year GDP for 2009 was expected to decline 2.3 percent, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2009)